BCSO Motor Unit Deputy Dan Thrush Battles Cancer

BCSO Deputy Thrush now in Hospice Care

Sheriff Wayne Ivey’s Weekly Crime Prevention Tip to talks about two very important messages – safety on our highways and Deputy Dan Thrush, who has dedicated his entire career to keep our citizens safe on Brevard’s roadways. (BCSO image)

BREVARD COUNTY, FLORIDA — I would like to use this week’s Weekly Crime Prevention Tip to talk about two very important messages – safety on our highways and Deputy Dan Thrush, who has dedicated his entire career to keep our citizens safe on Brevard’s roadways.

As a member of the Brevard County Sheriff’s Office Motor Unit, Deputy Dan Thrush, above, is committed to keeping our communities safe as they travel throughout our county. Dan’s accomplishments are incredible as his efforts are about a very valuable message, safety awareness. His demeanor is always calm and professional, performing with absolute courtesy. I can’t even begin to tell you how many citizens have shared with me how professional Dan is and how much their contact with him has positively impacted their driving habits. (BCSO image)

As a member of the Brevard County Sheriff’s Office Motor Unit, Deputy Thrush is committed to keeping our communities safe as they travel throughout our county.

Dan’s accomplishments are incredible as his efforts are about a very valuable message, safety awareness. His demeanor is always calm and professional, performing with absolute courtesy.

I can’t even begin to tell you how many citizens have shared with me how professional Dan is and how much their contact with him has positively impacted their driving habits.

Now however, Deputy Thrush’s efforts are committed to a different battle, for the past two years Dan has been working everyday on the streets of Brevard while battling cancer.

Never has Dan complained or requested a reassignment from his love of the Motor Unit.

Unfortunately, Dan is now in Hospice Care, but I can assure you that if he were physically capable to climb on his Motorcycle at this very moment in time, he would be on our streets doing what he does best and what he truly loves, protecting our communities by preventing aggressive driving and traffic fatalities.

In honor of his lifetime commitment to protecting our citizens, I want to share with you Deputy Dan Thrush’s message – please drive safe and remember the following safety tips that are provided by the Florida Safety Council:

DON’T DRINK AND DRIVE

Although this seems very obvious, the unfortunate truth is that many people are driving under the influence of not just alcohol, but other mind or mood altering substances, including medications.

OBEY THE SPEED LIMIT

There are a number of factors, which can take our attention away from the road, and we therefore have to avoid doing things that will divert our concentration away from safe driving. Never Text and Drive. (Shutterstock image)

This too seems like a very basic common sense rule of the road. We all must remind ourselves that the faster our vehicles are going, the less control we have over them, and the more severe the impact will be in the event of a crash.

BUCKLE UP

It’s the law. Besides, safety belts and restraint systems have saved countless lives. Make a habit of it, and be sure to check and make sure everyone else in your vehicle is buckled up as well. Additionally, don’t forget to use the required safety seating for your children.

BE FAMILIAR WITH, AND COMPLY WITH, ALL DRIVING-RELATED LAWS

There are many very affordable driver education courses, some of which are even available online to take at your convenience in the privacy of your own home.

MINIMIZE DISTRACTIONS

We have all experienced irritation when a careless driver has cut in front of us, or when someone has taken a parking space for which we have been waiting.

There are a number of factors, which can take our attention away from the road, and we therefore have to avoid doing things that will divert our concentration away from safe driving. Never Text and Drive.

STAY ALERT

In order to stay focused, it is important to get plenty of sleep and avoid driving when you have not had sufficient rest. On long drives, your ability to concentrate can be improved with periodic rest stops.

KEEP YOUR EMOTIONS IN CHECK

We have all experienced irritation when a careless driver has cut in front of us, or when someone has taken a parking space for which we have been waiting.

KEEP YOUR VEHICLE IN SAFE CONDITION

There is no “good” time for your vehicle to break down. However, it always seems that vehicle breakdowns happen at the worst possible time. Read your owner’s manual regarding the recommended maintenance for your vehicle and establish a timetable for routine maintenance to be done so that your vehicle will run smoothly and safely.

SET A GOOD EXAMPLE

When you practice good driving skills, others will notice; especially if the “others” happen to be your children, you can unwittingly be teaching them positive or negative driving habits.

ENROLL YOUR TEEN DRIVER IN THE BCSO TEEN DRIVING PROGRAM

The program is free to all teenage drivers and has already saved countless lives by teaching newer drivers how to safely operate a motor vehicle.

On behalf of your Brevard County Sheriff’s Office Motor Unit and our incredibly brave friend, Deputy Dan Thrush, I ask you to not only take note of these important traffic safety tips, but to please share them with your family, friends, and co-workers in honor of Dan

I also ask that you please keep Dan and his family in your thoughts and prayers as they face this extremely difficult time.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Brevard County Sheriff Wayne Ivey has been a law enforcement officer for over three decades. Sheriff Ivey is a graduate of the FBI National Academy and has a Bachelor’s Degree from Daytona State College in Management and Supervision. Sheriff Ivey’s background in law enforcement is inclusive of Management, Criminal Investigations, Narcotics, Patrol Services, Public Integrity Investigations, and Corrections.

Sheriff Wayne Ivey

Prior to being elected in 2012, Sheriff Ivey served the citizens of the State of Florida as a Resident Agent in Charge for the Florida Department of Law Enforcement. As a member of the Florida Department of Law Enforcement Sheriff Ivey developed and created the country’s first ever statewide Task Force on Identity Theft.

That same year the Task Force was named one of the top five most innovative programs in the country by the International Association of Chiefs of Police and investigated approximately 44 million dollars in fraud cases. Additionally, as a member of FDLE, Sheriff Ivey created the Child Abduction Response Team (C.A.R.T) that re-defined the way Child Abduction cases are conducted throughout the country today.

Brevard County Sheriff Wayne Ivey has been a law enforcement officer for over three decades. Sheriff Ivey is a graduate of the FBI National Academy and has a Bachelor’s Degree from Daytona State College in Management and Supervision. Sheriff Ivey’s background in law enforcement is inclusive of Management, Criminal Investigations, Narcotics, Patrol Services, Public Integrity Investigations, and Corrections.

The program was later selected as the most innovative program in the country by the International Association of Chiefs of Police and is now used as a nationwide model in the response and investigation of child abductions.

Sheriff Ivey has testified before the United States Congress on law enforcement related matters and has extensive experience in the area of Public Integrity Investigations. Sheriff Ivey was honored as the Florida Department of Law Enforcement’s Special Agent of the Year (1996) and was also recognized by the Commissioner of the Florida Department of Law Enforcement for his Outstanding Contributions to Criminal Justice. In August of 2011 Sheriff Ivey was honored by the National Organization of Victims Advocacy for his work at the national level as an advocate of victim’s rights and protection.